[TIP TUESDAY] Engaged & Surviving the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time filled with joy, family, friend and QUESTIONS! Inevitably, (and, don't worry, we all have one of "those" family members) Aunt Mildred wants to hear every detail of your wedding planning down to who is sitting at what table. Guess what, Aunt Mildred? Too much, too early!! There are some things that just cannot be done well in advance of the wedding.

You will find that as you see friends and family that you haven't seen in a while, they all want to know the tiniest details of the big day. You'll end up with a rehearsed set of answers and maybe even a joke you repeat to everyone--it may feel like a broken record to you, however your friends and family are curious because they love you and want to be involved! Not to worry, we have some tips for getting through the holidays without giving away ALL of your wedding plans!

1) Secret, secret--It is OK to keep your wedding a secret if that is what you want! You have the right to keep details to yourself and don't let anyone bully you into telling your wedding surprises! Simply tell your nosey guest that you and your fiancé have well into the throws of planning some amazing surprises for the big day that you want to keep secret until the big day! If you find your family or friends keep asking, then try some alternatives like the below....

2) A Juicy Detail...or Two--I always recommend having one or two "juicy" details in your arsenal ready to put out when necessary--Are you planning on having late night snacks or even a bouncy house at the wedding? Awesome! That is a great way to distract those friends and family members with one enticing detail of the wedding day without giving away the whole vision! By telling inquiring guests a "big" detail they will feel like they got the inside scoop and you can walk away knowing that your wedding will still have wow factor!

3) Food Fun--Have you started planning your menu, yet? This can be a great way to talk about your wedding to your curious friends. There is an adage that guests at your wedding will remember the food and music the most when thinking about your wedding day. There is some truth to this, however, it is more that these are 2 of the 5 senses that are strongly touched on at a wedding. So talk about the food! Talk about the music! You can tell a guest that you are offering Beef and Fish entrees without, again, giving away any surprises.

4) Ask Questions--No, you don't need to turn the tables on Aunt Mildred and say, "Well, why do you want to know?!" Instead, give them the chance to make a recommendation, "I love that you are so excited about the wedding, Aunt Mildred, what was your favorite song played at your wedding?" They may recommend something awful, or...they could offer up a really fabulous idea! I lovingly joke that in my line of work, you see a lot of "unique" details at events that are seen at almost every wedding. My mother will often attend an event or wedding and immediately call me to tell me what she experienced. Sure, I have seen or heard almost all of her ideas before, but there is usually a fun detail here and there that makes me think of one of my clients and gives me inspiration. Just use caution and don't feel like you HAVE to have everything your friends and family recommend!!

5) Take a Break--Remember that the holidays are a time for family and gathering. SO if that pesky Aunt Mildred just won't quit try easing the conversation to a different topic about the holidays. It is ok to say, "Oh boy! We have been doing so much planning lately we are really hoping to take a break and enjoy the season," Who can argue with that?!

We here at Em Devaud Events are so grateful to have your readership and hope that you enjoy this holiday season with your friends, family, fiancé!